Curious AI Newsletter #19
Oliver Rochford
Evangelist @ Auguria | Technologist | Cyberfuturist | Startup Advisor | Former Gartner Analyst
21 March 2024 -? “I was so mad at myself for not noticing it was AI before purchasing.”
Welcome to the nineteenth issue of the Curious AI Newsletter, curated by cyber futurist and former Gartner Research Director Oliver Rochford , and synthesized by AI.?
Key Themes in this issue:
“The truth is, either AI comes up with something very, very generic or my lyrics are just absolutely mundane”
James Blunt, Singer-Songwriter, on asking AI to imitate his lyrics
(source)
Most Interesting - Growing AI backlash
There are a few articles highlighting backlash against using AI. LEGO got into a bit of bother and caused an uproar after using AI-generated images on its website, apparently against its policy. Another article discusses how AI is impacting the cottage industry scene, asking if AI is ruining Etsy, the online marketplace for arts and crafts, with one buyer saying afterward “I was so mad at myself for not noticing it was AI before purchasing”.
The first interesting thing is that this represents two extremes - one is about an internationally recognized brand and corporation, and the other is about small-scale trade and artists. The second interesting thing is that in both cases, it makes some customers feel as though something unethical is being done.?
I am always intrigued by what people believe. Do customers believe that a small independent t-shirt maker can afford to hire professional models and photographers? If they can’t, who is losing out on business? And if they instead shot the photos themselves using their partner or a friend as a model, would that be unethical? After all, they didn’t hire another small business to do the work for them. And how about if they hired a large corporation to do their marketing on Etsy??
I ask all of this because the real question is whether the stance is simply anti-AI. Or is AI being associated with specific ideas and ideals in some people's minds?
Even some computer gamers are skeptical and resistant to the idea of integrating chatbots into games, describing the interactions as "soulless". Gamers can hardly be considered Luddites.
Most concerning
The report and study on the increase in the use of GPT and similar AI tools for academic work make for sober reading. A paper was accepted and published in a scientific journal with the obvious AI artifact “Certainly, here is a possible introduction for your topic” in the text. There’s already a “replication crisis in science”, academic dishonesty generally seems on the rise, not to mention the heated disagreements on what constitutes plagiarism.? So AI being used and abused by academics to make their life easier and sometimes to cheat should come as no real surprise.?
It does make you wonder about the credibility of peer review and many scientific journals. We recently featured another article about a peer-reviewed study featuring nonsensical AI images including a giant rat penis (not the sentence I ever imagined writing in a newsletter on AI), so this does not seem an isolated incident. But these reports seem less about the potential for the abuse of AI, and more about the drop in standards and gatekeeping in the scientific and academic community. Maybe AI can help with that?
Most grounded
The Information adds another data point indicating that many AI startups are struggling to grow revenue, with one of OpenAI’s competitors, Cohere, only generating around $13M in annualized revenue by December 2023? despite a $445M investment and a $6B valuation. Coincidentally, just as I was writing this today a report broke that Cohere is raising another round and expects the annualized revenue run rate to grow to $22 million this month.
The article only touches upon the lack of differentiation or tangible use cases. I’ve spoken to many stealth startups in cybersecurity over the past year, and most seem to have a solution looking for a problem. Is an LLM the best way to automate real-time malware response? I am skeptical. But many people believe such things. it's easy to see why - here we have this amazing new and novel technology that is subjectively and qualitatively lightyears ahead of everything else we had before. Surely it must be good for something, right?
The problem is that a lot of people are expecting generative AI to do everything.
Don’t like having to hire people? There’s an AI for that. Or there will be. Is cybersecurity too hard and expensive? We’re building an AI for that. It will be ready real soon. Developers aren’t fast enough? You don’t need developers at all. One day. Buy our AI tool now, and we will deliver later. Trust and you’ll be trusted, says the liar to the fool. People are gambling on progress that is not even remotely inevitable. But even if it were, stuff takes time to happen. It’s going to take time for people to work out what it's best for and how to best use it.?
International AI
Saudi Arabia's Ambitious Investment in Artificial Intelligence
The New York Times | https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/19/business/saudi-arabia-investment-artificial-intelligence.html
Saudi Arabia is significantly investing in artificial intelligence to diversify its economy beyond oil. This move aligns with its Vision 2030 plan, showcasing a strategic pivot towards innovative technology sectors. The kingdom's investment includes establishing AI research centers, partnerships, and funding innovative AI projects, aiming to become a global AI hub and create a sustainable, technologically advanced future.
Sentiment: Positive | Time to Impact: Mid to Long-term
AI and Business
LEGO's AI-Generated Images: A Misstep
LEGO retracted its use of AI-generated images on its website after criticism from fans and creators, including a Ninjago co-creator. The AI-generated content, which went against LEGO's policies, sparked debate about using generative AI in creative industries. While LEGO acknowledges the potential of AI, it emphasizes human creativity's importance and commits to policy adherence. This incident highlights the complex dynamics and ethical considerations in blending AI with traditional creative processes.
Sentiment: Neutral to Concerned | Time to Impact: Immediate
SEC fires ‘AI washing’ warning shot
Financial Times | https://www.ft.com/content/70cd5aaf-746b-4577-889f-572449e1ba39
The SEC charged Delphia (USA) Inc. and Global Predictions Inc. with falsely claiming the use of AI in their operations, misleading clients and investors. Both firms settled with the SEC, paying a total of $400,000 in penalties. The SEC emphasizes the importance of truthful representation of AI usage in the investment industry, highlighting the growing concern over 'AI washing'—misrepresenting AI capabilities to attract investment or clients.
Sentiment: Concerned | Time to Impact: Immediate
Tepid Revenue at Cohere Shows OpenAI Competitors Face Uphill Battle
The Information | https://www.theinformation.com/articles/tepid-revenue-at-cohere-shows-openai-competitors-face-uphill-battle
The article discusses that while hype around AI? has resulted in large funding and valuation rounds, few AI startups are making much money. Take for example Cohere, a competitor of OpenAI, which is facing challenges in generating substantial revenue. Cohere raised $445M in new funding at a $6B valuation last year but generated just ~$13M in annualized revenue at the end of 2023. Despite offering similar language AI services, Cohere's revenue generation is tepid, highlighting the competitive hurdles and market saturation issues that new entrants encounter in the rapidly evolving AI industry.
Sentiment: Concerned | Time to Impact: Immediate
AI and Robotics
Mercedes Trials Humanlike Robots for Factory Tasks
Financial Times | https://www.ft.com/content/0dd1227c-0971-4d90-960e-5aef7f18ee48
Mercedes-Benz is experimenting with humanlike robots in its factories to perform repetitive tasks. The humanoid Apollo robots, developed by Apptronik, can lift to 55 pounds and navigate spaces designed for humans. This innovation addresses labor shortages and aims to increase automation without major layout changes. Mercedes is not alone in this pursuit, as other automakers like BMW and Tesla are also exploring similar automation avenues. The trial in labor-scarce Hungary reflects the evolving auto industry landscape.
Sentiment: Neutral | Time to Impact: Immediate
AI Supply chain
Meta's Hunger for Nvidia AI Chips Could Lead to $7 Billion in H100 GPU Acquisitions
Meta is reportedly gearing up to purchase Nvidia's H100 GPUs, potentially spending up to $7 billion by year-end. This massive investment indicates Meta's significant commitment to enhancing its AI capabilities. The H100 GPUs, known for their advanced AI processing power, are crucial for running sophisticated AI models. Meta's substantial investment underscores the tech industry's growing reliance on powerful hardware to drive AI innovation and development.
Sentiment: Neutral | Time to Impact: Immediate
AI and Work
AI Industry Profits from Venezuelan Labor Exploitation
MIT Technology Review | https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/04/20/1050392/ai-industry-appen-scale-data-labels/
Venezuela's economic crisis led to its emergence as a major source of cheap labor for AI data-labeling companies like Appen. These platforms provide essential data for AI systems, relying on inexpensive labor to tag and transcribe content. The demand for data annotation, heightened by deep learning's rise, coincides with Venezuela's plight, creating a grim synergy. While offering survival means, this setup exposes workers to exploitation, reflecting problematic labor practices in AI's development pipeline.
Sentiment: Strongly Negative | Time to Impact: Immediate
AI and Computer Gaming
'Games made by soulless machines': Tech sparks debate over AI stories in video games
Nvidia and Convai's AI technology in video games promises dynamic character interactions, potentially reshaping storytelling. However, game writers are skeptical about AI replacing human-crafted narratives and are concerned about job displacement. While AI can enhance minor character depth, it may not match human creativity in developing compelling main stories. This emerging tech, amid ethical debates, challenges the authenticity and future of human-driven storytelling in gaming.
Sentiment: Neutral to Concerned | Time to Impact: Immediate
AI and Crafts
领英推荐
Is AI Ruining Etsy? Loosening Definition of 'Handmade' Frustrates Artists & Buyers
Etsy's increasing acceptance of AI-created items is causing frustration among traditional artists and buyers. This shift challenges the platform's 'handmade' ethos, with AI-generated goods blurring the lines of authenticity. Artists who painstakingly craft their products feel undermined, and buyers seeking genuine handmade items need to be more satisfied. The debate highlights the tension between embracing technological advancements and preserving the unique value of human craftsmanship in online marketplaces.
Sentiment: Negative to Concerned | Time to Impact: Immediate
AI and Music
James Blunt admits asking AI to imitate his lyrics ‘totally humiliated’ him
James Blunt embraced AI technology to craft a new song, blending his musical style with AI-generated lyrics. This innovative approach marks a fascinating fusion of human creativity and artificial intelligence in music production. While AI's role in the creative process is growing, this collaboration highlights the potential for AI to assist artists in generating unique content, offering fresh perspectives and ideas in the artistic domain.
Sentiment: Positive | Time to Impact: Immediate
AI and Medicine
AI-Designed Drug Advances Towards Approval
Singularity Hub | https://singularityhub.com/2024/03/18/an-ai-designed-drug-is-moving-toward-approval-at-an-impressive-clip/
An AI-designed drug is rapidly advancing towards approval, showcasing the efficiency of AI in pharmaceutical development. The drug, created through AI analysis and design processes, is notable for its quick progression through the approval stages. This highlights AI's potential in streamlining drug discovery and development, significantly reducing the time and resources typically required in traditional methods.
Sentiment: Positive | Time to Impact: Immediate to Short-term
AI and Science
Ancient scrolls are being ‘read’ by machine learning – with human knowledge to detect language and make sense of them
The Conversation | https://theconversation.com/ancient-scrolls-are-being-read-by-machine-learning-with-human-knowledge-to-detect-language-and-make-sense-of-them-224334
Ancient scrolls, previously unreadable, are being deciphered using a novel combination of machine learning and human expertise. This innovative approach enables the detection and interpretation of languages in these historical documents. The fusion of AI and scholarly knowledge is opening new doors in understanding ancient cultures and texts, transforming the field of historical linguistics and archaeology.
Sentiment: Positive | Time to Impact: Immediate
Scientific Journal Publishes Paper with AI-Generated Introduction
Technology Networks | https://www.technologynetworks.com/informatics/news/scientific-journal-publishes-paper-with-ai-generated-introduction-384837
A scientific journal recently published a paper featuring an AI-generated introduction, marking a significant development in AI's role in academic writing. This move highlights AI tools' growing acceptance and integration in scientific research and publication. It raises questions about the future of AI in academics, particularly concerning authenticity, quality, and the potential influence on the peer-review process and academic standards.
Sentiment: Neutral | Time to Impact: Immediate to Short-term
AI's Impact on Human Research
The Conversation | https://theconversation.com/something-felt-off-how-ai-messed-with-our-human-research-and-what-we-learned-225555
Researchers experienced challenges when AI interfered with human-centric studies. The article details how AI tools inadvertently skewed research outcomes, raising concerns about AI's reliability and its potential to distort data. This emphasizes the need for careful integration of AI in research methodologies and the importance of human oversight to maintain the integrity and accuracy of scientific studies.
Sentiment: Concerned | Time to Impact: Immediate
[PAPER] Monitoring AI-Modified Content at Scale: A Case Study on the Impact of ChatGPT on AI Conference Peer Reviews
Cornell University | https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.07183
This research examines how large language models (LLMs) might be affecting scientific peer review. The authors estimate that LLMs may have significantly altered up to 16.9% of recent AI conference reviews. Reviews with lower confidence, submitted near deadlines, and from non-responsive reviewers showed a higher chance of LLM involvement. The study suggests a broader discussion on how LLMs are impacting the way we handle information and knowledge.
Sentiment: Neutral to Concerned | Time to Impact: Immediate
AI and Cybersecurity
Microsoft Uses Compute Units to Charge for Security Copilot
Microsoft introduced a new billing system for its Security Copilot, charging customers based on compute units. The Microsoft Copilot for Security will cost $4 per “security compute unit” when it becomes available in April. This move aligns with the company's effort to monetize AI advancements, as compute units reflect the actual resources used. The strategy marks a significant shift in how AI services are priced, potentially setting a precedent in the industry.
Sentiment: Neutral | Time to Impact: Immediate
Contrarian AI
Chatbots Promise a Future That Will Never Arrive
Engadget's article critiques the overhyped promises of chatbots, suggesting they may never fully deliver on their futuristic visions. The piece explores the limitations and challenges chatbots face, arguing that while they have advanced, they still fall short of the transformative impact often anticipated. It underscores the gap between current capabilities and the complex, human-like interactions many expect.
Sentiment: Concerned | Time to Impact: Long-term
AI and AGI
The Madness of the Race to Build Artificial General Intelligence
Truthdig | https://www.truthdig.com/articles/the-madness-of-the-race-to-build-artificial-general-intelligence/
The article critically examines the intense race to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), highlighting ethical concerns and the potential repercussions of such advancements. It suggests the pursuit of AGI is more competitive than considerate of societal impact. The author calls for responsible AI development, emphasizing the importance of deliberation over the long-term effects on society and human welfare.
Sentiment: Concerned | Time to Impact: Long-term
Ignore the hype: Progress in AI is slowing down not speeding up – and history teaches us why
Vulcan Post | https://vulcanpost.com/854414/progress-in-ai-is-slowing-down-not-speeding-up-history-teaches-us-why/
Contrary to popular belief, the progress in AI is experiencing a slowdown rather than an acceleration. Historical patterns suggest that major technological advancements often face periods of deceleration after initial rapid developments. This phenomenon in AI progress challenges the notion of continuous, exponential growth in the field. The article underlines the importance of understanding these cycles to realistically assess and prepare for the future trajectory of AI technology and its societal implications.
Sentiment: Neutral to Concerned | Time to Impact: Mid-term
Auguria Emerges from Stealth with AI-Driven Cybersecurity Platform
Auguria, Inc. has officially launched its AI-driven platform, aiming to revolutionize SecOps. Focusing on critical data, Auguria's solution targets the 1% of data that's most crucial for identifying emerging cybersecurity threats. The platform is designed to streamline and enhance security operations through advanced AI analytics. Auguria's emergence is supported by SYNventures and SentinelOne S Ventures.
Sentiment: Positive | Time to Impact: Immediate
About the Curious AI Newsletter
AI is hype. AI is a utopia. AI is a dystopia.
These are the narratives currently being told about AI. There are mixed signals for each scenario. The truth will lie somewhere in between. This newsletter provides a curated overview of positive and negative data points to support decision planners and makers in forecasts and horizon scanning. The selection of news items is intended to provide a cross-section of articles from across the spectrum of AI optimists, AI realists, and AI pessimists and showcase the impact of AI across different domains and fields.
The news is curated by Oliver Rochford, Technologist, and former Gartner Research Director. AI (ChatGPT) is used in analysis and for summaries.
Want to summarize your news articles using ChatGPT? Here's the latest iteration of the prompt. The Curious AI Newsletter is brought to you by the Cyber Futurists.
Generate rules on the fly based on data examples and without writing any logic
CEO, Founder @ CyberArmor | Frauds/Threats Intelligence
8 个月Thank you for sharing your insights on AI. I believe we've become overly excited about GenAI and haven't yet considered the potential problems associated with it. Your article has been very helpful. I'm curious about AI's role in detecting malware. I'm certain that basic or well-known malware can be easily detected. However, APT-style malware is not as simple to detect or combat, especially when utilizing techniques like PowerShell, as you pointed out previously.
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8 个月Thanks for sharing Curious AI #19! You have an amazing profile. please add me to your network?Oliver Rochford :)